EVA Biz Class - BKK to AMS return

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Anyone used EVA's new(ish) Royal Laurel Class to/from Europe (Amsterdam/London)? It looks pretty decent on the website (1-2-1 configuration) and at 78k Baht (including taxes) return to AMS it looks like a good option for me (going on to Edinburgh).

 

Edited October 16, 2013 by CheshireTom

[short 215]

Take a look at Turkish Airlines. It has what is probably the best premium economy I have seen anywhere.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Take a look at Turkish Airlines. It has what is probably the best premium economy I have seen anywhere.

 

Why? They don't offer it to either Bangkok or Edinburgh. Besides, Royal Laurel is a business class product, not premium economy.

Edited October 16, 2013 by CheshireTom

[bigmick 840]

Tom, I flew Royal Laurel back in August to London with my wife and we really enjoyed the service. I found the staff on board very polite and attentive. Food was excellent and I would definitely fly them again when I need a direct flight to London. One of the best business class seats I have had.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Tom, I flew Royal Laurel back in August to London with my wife and we really enjoyed the service. I found the staff on board very polite and attentive. Food was excellent and I would definitely fly them again when I need a direct flight to London. One of the best business class seats I have had.

 

Thanks for that, Mick. I have to travel on to Edinburgh, which is why I was looking at the Amsterdam flight. I must say that from the video, it looks a much better product and exceptional value compared to Thai and BA (around 30-50k Baht cheaper as well).

[N3RGT 118]

Tom,

that price of 78K baht does seem very good.Whilst I realise that fares do vary dependent on which direction,source/destination one is headed.

At an exchange rate of around 45 baht to the pound sterling, that equates to around £1750. A popular ticket source used by quite a few on this board, WestEast travel, advertises the same flight, Jan 2014 thru June (different direction) for FROM £2039...and that seems to be an "offer"

I have only used EVA premium economy so can't comment on travelling "Royal Laurel", but the video, food menu, facilities etc look pretty civilised to me. I'd say you had a good deal there .

Edited October 16, 2013 by N3RGT

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Tom,

that price of 78K baht does seem very good.Whilst I realise that fares do vary dependent on which direction,source/destination one is headed.

At an exchange rate of around 45 baht to the pound sterling, that equates to around £1750. A popular ticket source used by quite a few on this board, WestEast travel, advertises the same flight, Jan 2014 thru June (different direction) for FROM £2039...and that seems to be an "offer"

 

To be fair, the 78k Baht is the price to Amsterdam (rather than LHR) but since I have to go on to Edinburgh it's probably the preferable option for me - and I get to avoid the horrendous UK passenger tax (or whatever it's called these days). If my memory is any good, if you are going to transit at one of the major European hubs, Amsterdam is a pretty decent option.

[ttk 236]

If my memory is any good, if you are going to transit at one of the major European hubs, Amsterdam is a pretty decent option.

I have transited through Amsterdam many times over the years traveling to the middle east from the states. My travels have always been on Delta to/from USA and continuing on with KLM. From my experiences, AMS has the most unhelpful ground staff (at least KLM) that I have ever encountered. Seems the only English many of them know is "Not Possible" with some also knowing "My Colleague Says it is". Even explaining to them that I had done what I am asking many times before (and just 2 weeks earlier), does not help them. It usually takes asking 3-4 different people before I get what I need. It is also not KLM as a whole since the Arab staff in Bahrain are VERY helpful.

[beerboy 40]

Have traveled twice with EVA Business before, both great experiences. Avoid BA, used them last time as i got a discounted ticket. Worst Business class i have ever been with.

[Gus 97]

That's a good deal Tom, go get it. I assume that you would be able to get a connecting flight the same evening to Scotland.

 

I have just had a look at the Eva air web site and for the 12th November to 12th December the fares were 2130 Euros (£1806) AMS-BKK return or the 78095 THB (£1567) return for BKK-AMS, the fare from LHR-BKK return these days is usually just over £2000, probably because of UK taxes and charges.

 

Before the refurb from Premium Laurel the LHR-BKK return fare was around £1700, after the refurb to Royal, £2000.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

That's a good deal Tom, go get it. I assume that you would be able to get a connecting flight the same evening to Scotland.

 

I would book a separate flight to Scotland with KLM/Cityhopper and overnight in Amsterdam - I'll be staying in hotels during my time in Scotland, so it's not an additional expense and I'll save a few euros by booking in advance.

 

I have just had a look at the Eva air web site and for the 12th November to 12th December the fares were 2130 Euros (£1806) AMS-BKK return or the 78095 THB (£1567) return for BKK-AMS, the fare from LHR-BKK return these days is usually just over £2000, probably because of UK taxes and charges.

Before the refurb from Premium Laurel the LHR-BKK return fare was around £1700, after the refurb to Royal, £2000.

 

I think the fare is 95k Baht to LHR during that time period, so quite a bit cheaper to AMS.

Edited October 16, 2013 by CheshireTom

[short 215]

Why? They don't offer it to either Bangkok or Edinburgh. Besides, Royal Laurel is a business class product, not premium economy.

 

I think someone intending to give me a -1 gave it to you by accident. I will give you a +1 to counter.

 

 

I'm having a little trouble with the Turkish website but I did manage to capture this.

 

[jimmac 66]

To answer your original question, I have flown in that class from Taipei to Toronto on the way home from LOS. It is by far the best business class lie flat bed I have experienced. Its design has it narrowing below your knees, not at your gut or shoulder like many other pod designs. It feels spacious and comfortable and the orientation away from the aisles gives you a feeling of more privacy. Get a window seat and you'll have a great view as you are oriented toward the windows, not away from them.....very nice when you are awake, very comfortable when you are asleep. Eva's new business class is an excellent product. I'd fly it again on long haul any time.

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I just flew this class from San Francisco to Taipei.. It was on board a 777 with a 1-2-1 configuration. So every seat is an aisle seat. I had a window seat, however it is difficult to see much outside of the window because of the shelf. (Think looking out the window from a middle seat in economy).

One issue I have with the design of these pods is the TV has to swing out in order to view it. During landing and take off, you have to stow the TV. EVA has/had a "gate to gate" entertainment system in Elite class, not sure about economy. It was always nice to be able to finish off that last 15 minutes of movie.

 

The two seats in the middle have a flaw with the TV as well. Because the two passengers are angled towards each other, when the TVs are stowed, you are looking directly at your neighbors TV. The light from the TV could be very distracting if you were trying to sleep. Since the TV is completely unusable while stowed, it should automatically turn off. There should be a privacy screen between these two seats as well.

 

Another design flaw is the position of the seat controls.

 

If you do fly this class, be sure to at least look at the menus online before you fly. I was glad that I did as they have a much more extended menu than what they carry on board, so I was able to order a nice steak.

Edited October 22, 2013 by BeerBelly

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Thanks guys ... lots of good advice there - exactly what I was after.

[timorno 30]

 

I think someone intending to give me a -1 gave it to you by accident. I will give you a +1 to counter.

 

 

I'm having a little trouble with the Turkish website but I did manage to capture this.

 

bkk2edi.jpg

There is no premium economy offered on the Turkish flights to BKK. Just economy and business

[neilri2001 42]

I've booked Eva's new business class for my upcoming flight in November. Based on the experience of a friend and the onsite videos its a dramatic improvement on the previous offering although this is reflected in the price and you will struggle to get a return from LHR for less than £2k, so 78,000 baht to AMS represents a fair price i think. As others have pointed out a 1-2-1 seating formation with a seat width of 26 inches

( compared to 20 inches on Thai's 777's which is little more than many economy carriers)